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Coffee Is a Jamaican Specialty: Have You Had Your Morning Coffee?
Jamaican coffee is a premier product which is enjoyed worldwide. The two main types of coffees grown in Jamaica are Blue Mountain and Jamaica Prime coffees. The Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown in the famous Jamaican Blue Mountains in the parish of St. Andrew, while Jamaica Prime is grown in the parishes of Manchester, St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Ann, and St. Elizabeth. Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is cultivated between 2,000 and 5,000 feet above sea level, while Jamaica Prime is cultivated at a slightly lower altitude.
The Coffee Industry Board’s trade name for Jamaica Prime is “Jamaica Mountain Choice Coffee,” and it is recognized as a premium quality gourmet bean in its own right. The world’s most expensive coffee (sold mainly to the Japanese and also marketed in part under the JABLUM brand name) is produced in Mavis Bank, St. Andrew.
The Mavis Bank Central factory was built in 1923 by English planter and processor Victor Munn (the Munn family had been producing coffee in the Blue Mountains since 1885).
In producing the coffee, the beans are spread on a large concrete surface in order to remove twenty percent of their moisture. The parchment (dried beans) are packed in burlap bags and put in the warehouse to cure for eight to ten weeks.
Following this process, the coffee is mechanically separated based on size and density, and selections are made for a balanced roast. The beans are roasted at 150ºF for fifteen minutes and then cooled for five minutes before being ground. As the beans are heated, the characteristic aroma is released. The product is packaged in vacuum-sealed bags ranging from two ounces to seven-pound bags ready for local and international consumption.
Have you had your Jamaican coffee experience lately? Consider waking up to the delicious aroma of Jamaican coffee.
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